Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, and my days are over; the grave is ready for me.
“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
2 Surely there are mockers with me; my eye must always see their provocation.
Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help me?
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
5 He who denounces his friends for a reward, the eyes of his children will fail.
He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 But he has made me a byword of the people; they spit in my face.
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
7 My eye is also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.
Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
9 The righteous man will keep to his way; he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, come on now; I will not find a wise man among you.
But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
11 My days are past; my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.
My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
12 These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.
They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
13 If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness, (Sheol h7585)
14 and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'
if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
